Controversy seems to dog the plantation drives under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in the state.

After Bundelkhand in 2008, the plantation drive in the Vindhyanchal region is under scanner this year.

Since July, cases of corruption have been emerging and the Department of Rural Development has initiated action and lodged FIRs against 60 people — including forest officials, rural development officials, and officials of banks and post offices where NREGS accounts have been opened.

The Union Minister for Rural Development, CP Joshi, has appreciated the state’s quick responses.

Most of the cases where FIRs are being lodged and action taken, belongs to 2007-08 and 2008-09 and corruption was detected after social audits were done by local Non-Governmental Organisations.

On basis of social audit reports, the Department of Rural Development sent the state NREGS monitors for verification. On basis of monitors’ reports, action was taken.

While plantation under NREGS has reported most instances of corruption, irregularities have been detected in other tasks, like construction of check dams and ponds.

In almost all cases, fraudulent methods were used to withdraw money from accounts of labourers by officials of the Forest department. Officials of banks and post offices were also found involved and action has been taken against them as well.

The first cases emerged in Chandauli in July, when the department lodged FIRs against 20 people. They included rangers, bank managers, cashiers and even forest guards. Forest officials were found to have opened accounts in the Kashi Grameen Bank. The excess money was withdrawn in connivance with bank officials. Similar cases were reported from Sonebhadra, where action was taken following reports by state NREGS monitor VS Chaubey.

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